Apparatus for the destructive distillation of wood.



S. E. SEAMAN. APPARATUS FOR THE nns'rauc'rwn DISTILLATION 0F WOOD.

APPLIOATIOH IILBD DBO. 27, 1913.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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S. E. SEAMAN.

APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUGTIVE DISTILLA'IION 0F WOOD.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 27, 1913.

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I Q Vi hwomg S. B. SEAMAN.

APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUGTIVE DISTILLATION 0F WOOD.

APPLICATION FILED DBG.27,1913.

Patented Nov. 3,1914.

3 SHEET8-SKBBT 3.

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STEWART SliAMAN, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF WOOD.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 27,1913.

Patented Nov. 3., 1914.

Serial No. 809,113.

To all whom it may concern:

I Be it known that I, STEwAur ll. SEAMAN, :1 citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvem t in Apparatus for the Destructive Disti lation of Wood, of'

which the following is a. full, clear, and ex act description. A

My invention relates to improvements in the art of the destructive distillation'of wood 1' nd analogous substances. Heretofore the most general way of carrying on the destructive distillation of wood has been to place the wood in a stationary retort until the wood is carbonizediand its volatile or partly volatile contents driven out, or by carrying thematerial to'be distilled by means of a conveyor through the retort. Rotary retorts havealso been experimentally'used in this ,art, but. thereare difficulties in the way of carrying on any of the above systems. I have found by practical experience that it is necessary to carry on the destructive distillation of wood or other analogous substances,

in an atmosphere from which air is excluded,

aod while this is generally understood, and urost forms of apparatus are presumablv based on this theory, still in actual practice a great deal of air is admitted into the retort with the material to be destroyed, with the result that the presence of oxygen causes combustion and often explosions. so that the apparatus is likely to be injured, the products are liable'to be expelled through the joints of the al'iparatus. and the distillate largely decomposcd- The object of my invention is to obviate these (lifliculties, and produce an apparatus in which the continuous process of distillation can be carried on, in which the rotary parts can be kept sufiicicntly lubricated. the joints hermetically sealed. in which the volatile substances can be driven off and condensed, in which the non-condensa'ole gases can be utilized as fuel. in which the. carbonixed products can be conveniently withdrawn without danger of ignition and with-' out special manipulation, and finally in which the non-c0ndensable gases can he utilized to force the air from the material which is being supplied to the retort so that the carbonization and distillation is carried on in an atmosphere from which the oxygen is practically excluded. My invention has also provided for the expansion of the retort without injury to it or accessory parts, and it also provides for a simple form of up a iatus which is not likelyto get out of or er, and inwhich the parts are readily accessible for cleaning and for repairs.

Another important object of the invention is to enable the apparatus to be worked efficiently and economically with very finely divided materials, such for instance as saw-dust, which is practically a waste 'prodhct and which contains, obviously, the materials to be distilled from wood in other forms. Heretofore it has been found very difiicult to distillfinely divided material like saw-dust, because such material carries a great quantity of air, which it has been found ditlicult to eliminate before the material enters the retort, and furthermore as saw-dust is a good non-conductor, it is Likely to become packed, coated with a tarry substancevwhich exudes from the wood under moderate temperature, and thus brought into such a condition that a portion of the quantity of saw-dust will resist ordinary efforts of curbonization and distillation; but with my apparatus the material is kept di vidcd and in an unpacked condition, and moreover the air is expelled before it enters the refordso that perfect carbonization and distillation results. i

lZcf ereince is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar reference characters lildhhlte corresponding parts in all the views. Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of one end'portion of the apparatus. Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the other end portion of the apparatus. the two figures when placed together showing the complete apparatus. Fig. 2 is a diagram of the stationary head at the end of the retort. Fig, 3 is a dross section through tlu retort, Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the cooling bins in which the carbonized material is collected from the retort. Fig. 5 isa diagrammatic plan of a part of the apparatus, and Fig. 6 is an end view of the retort with the connections in section.

, In carrying out my invention I use a relatively'long rotary retort 10, which for "5% :uavity toward the lower end.

' much contraction and expansion.

convenience is cylindrical, and which is carried by a rotary hollow shaft 11. The retort is mounted in a suitable casing 12vrhich can most conveniently be masonry, is prosided with a suitable heating' furnace 13, and with a stack 14 for the es'capeof the products of combustion in the furnace The' shaft 11 is provided with suitable bearings 15 at the ends of the retort, and is also rovided at its ends with glands or stu n'g boxes 10. The bearings 15 are supported on .suitable posts 17 or equivalent supports, and

these also support the stufling boxes 16. The pipe 18 enters the upper end of the shaft 11, which it will be noticed is inclined, and the retort is also correspondingly inclined. The pipe 19 is adapted to carryacooling medium such as steam or water, and a pipe 18. provides for the discharge of the heated water at the upper end of the shaft 11. This arrangement prevents the shaft from getting red hot and from being subject to too The re-. tort is provided with suitable strengtheningspiders ltl, the hubs of which are keyed to the shaft 11 as shown at 21 in Fig. 1, so that as the retort expands and contracts, it can slide on the shaft 11 without warping and without twisting the shaft.

The retort is provided with suitable blades 10 so that when revolved it will stir up its contents and keepthem in a finely divided state, and it will be seen that the con tents of the retort will gradually work by The retort ran be revolved in any suitablv manner. and l have shown it provided with a suitable gear wheel 22 at its upper end. which meshes with the rear wheel 23 on the shaft 24, and

: ghe latter can be driven by any suitable means, as by a pullev 25, and can be carried in any suitable supports. The retort can also he stayed at necessarv intervals as .shown in Fig. l, by providing it with a band or hands 26 resting on an idle wheel 27 mounted on a shaft 98 turning in suitable supports 29. I

To prevent the retort from moving downward along the direction of its axis, it should have a suitable thrust bearing, and l have shown it provided with a fixed collar 30 running against rotary bearings 31 on an adjacent support. Obviously any suitable thrust bearing (an be suli)stituted for that shown.

The retort has stationary ends which provide for expansion, lubrication, and a tight joint, and this is a very important matter as heretofore in' efforts alon; this line it has been found that the volatile products of carbonization have been apt to escape through, the joints of the retort. As shown the cup shaped head 32 at the upper end of the retort overlaps a flanged section 33, and a gland is formed between the two parts 32 and 33, and the face of the retort, which gland is filled with asbestos packing lubricated by graphite or similar lubricant. and connected with an oil cup 34. parts are well-lubricated, and provision is made for the expansion of the retort-longitudinally in thhead without affecting the tightness of the joint. The head 32 is provided with a central opening 35 for the "shaft .11, which opening can be suitably packed, and in the head I show-also openings 36 and 37 the former being for the -inlct of the material to he carbonized and distilled, and thezlatter for the exit of the volatile products. At the lower end of the retort a stationary head 32 is arranged which connects with afiansred member 33 forming a joint subtai'itially like that already described at the upper end of the retort, and the gland: of the lower head is also connected with an oil cup 34. i

p The material to be distilled, which as stated should be sawdust or finely divided wood or analogous material, is preferably fed to the apparatus through a hopper38 (see F ig. 1) which is provided with a suitable gate 39 and discharges into the spiral conveyer 40 carried in the horizontal casing 41, and one end of the casing 41 can be provided with a suitable stuffing box 42 through which the shaftmf the spiral conveyer extends. and this can be driven in any suitable manner, as by means of a pulley 43. It will be understood that while the spiral conveyer is most practical for this purp se, still any other suitable conveyor can be used either at this point or at other parts of the'apparatus where spiral conveyers are shown, withoutaatfecting the principle of the invention.

The eonveyer 41 discharges into a vertically arranged casing 44 which is provided with inclined ledges or baffles 45 and 46. the battles 45 and 4 being preferably of opposite inclination so that the material will zigzag downward through the casing 44 and be broken up in its progress. This arrangement prevents the solid packing of the material, and also provides for the elimination of air as hereinafter described.

The casing 44 discharges into the casing 47 through which extends a spiral conveyor 48, and the casing 47 connects with the opening 36 in'the head 3:2 so that the material is discharged from the casing 47 into the retort. The outer end of the casing 47 is provided with a suitable stuffing box 49, and I have shown a pulley 50 for driving the conveyer. A'gas outlet pipe 52 connects with the opening 37 so that the volatile products expelled by heating the material in the retort pass out through the pipe or casing 52, and this pipe is preferably made in two parts,meeting as at 53, for convenience in Thus the assembling and tlisassrmbling, and the pipe is also preferably provided at its outer end with a removable rap 3; to facilitate cleaning. *The volatile products passing through 5 the pipe 52 are passed downward through vided w th a suitable rap 5?. The tank 54 is to collect the \iood ta r. and I have shown the tank provided with an over-flow pipe 58 and with a drainage pipe 59.. By inset-ting the sett ing tank or trap between the retort and the condens r to he presently described. 1 am enabled to conveniently separate the tar. and it prevents the tar from fouling and rlogging the condenser. A pipe (it) leads from the upper portion of the tank 54 to a easing r compartment 61, which is provided with vertical battle :ltttS (r2 dropped from its top. and these batlles are arranged la-"iihfill Eli! metnlwrg; Hi the in ierted U shaped pipes in; which extend upfiUll into the rasing $3 in whi h cold water or other cooling medium is kept. The distillate is; drann oil through a goose neck trap 35. and l do not claim the condenser here shown as novel. nor do I limit my invention to this particular form of condenser.

(onnerted with the izmnpartment il at the outlet end of the condenser is a pipe 66 thrrmgh Whirl; the uneondensed gases pass, and the pipe 3 mnneets with branch pipes (ii? and Th. and delivers through the opening (31' and through the op nings 67 into th ias ng l l beneath th ledges 15. This cond nse-ii gas is hen" than :i*-'. an: as it backs up in th (1; Jflf it. it anally p:t:-: es around the lower ends of the ledges l1 and passes through it v"broken mate ial dropping through the casing. car r ving with it the greater part of the air. and the oxygen and mingled gases pass out through the pipe 72. a serci-gn Tl being arranged within the easing -l-l'to prevent the more solid material from being withdrawn trom the pipe 7;. The pipe T2? connected to a :-uita' iie whaust tan 4:? or other exnaiwting means. and is arranged to dirhar "12 and the openthrough the pipe. 4 nt! 7 into the furnace .3. a suitable burner being he used to," burning the gases.

it will thus be seen that l make my un r wlrnsial ga es form the very useful purpose oi expelling tin; air from the material nhirh is to be treated. and then utilize the mingled air and gases for fuel. and in practi e these g; ses ar almost. snflieient to heat th retort l Tin charcoal or other carbonized material is drawn oil by gravity through the lower nd of the rrtort, and the stationary head 32 connects through a pipe 74 with a eas casing ing T5 in which is a spiral convevcr 77, the

' and eonveyer being suitably supported as slimvn at Tii. The conveyor 77 ll harges into the inclined pipes 78 and 78a junction of the pipes so as to direct the carbonized material into the one desired. and these pipes deliver into bins 7.) and 79 having suitably controlled outlets 80. The

bins are also provided with cooling coils 75 81 which serve to quickly cool the hot carbonized material. I have shown these coils within the bins. but obviously they could b placed outside the bins if desired.

it will thus be seen that I have provided 39 a very simple and complete apparatus for carrying on the continuous destructive distillation of wood or analogous material. that ample provision is made for the expansion of the retort. that there is no chance for air in any possible quantities to enter the.

retort or fo volatile gases to escape. and further that i provide a mnvenient means for sepa ating the tar from the distillate,

and for util zing the uncondensed gases to expel the air from the material to be treated. and for furnishing a part of the fuel necessary to carry on the process. lt. will also be noti ed hat bv having the exliauster drawing on the pipe 72 the etleet is felt through all the connected parts bark to the retort. and atmosaiherir conditions Without vacuum or pressure. are maintained in the retort.

Attention is va -led to the fact that after the tar has been trapped oil in the trap 54, and the gases have passed through the conden er "1!. the unrondenscd gases passing through the pipe i i will he eool so that they can salelv pass through the material as it is fed or fted down through the casing 44. 'lhir: is very important a were hot. gases used. th rharge n the l'ce l easing it would iiniantly ignite or explode. owing to the tflllil llllliUil of the hot gases and oxygen.

l claim 2* l. .\n apparatus of the kind described nipris ing a retort. means spaced apart from th retort and out of the zone of heat generated in the retort to feed material to rh retort. and means for expelling the air from said material as it passes through the feed ng means.

:3. An ipparatus of the kind described -onipri ing a retort..means spaced apart from the retort; for feeding the material thereto. and means for forcing cool gases through the material as it passes through the feeding means to expel the air from the material.

l. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a sealed retort; means spaced apart from the retort for feeding material to the retort, a condenser connected with the retort. and means for utilizing the cool una suitable gate being arranged at the UOHi'lVHSPd glas es in expvi the iii, 5mm thitmatci'iai as it is fed to hii'inrrh 4. An apparatus Hi Uil hind de i'miipi'ising an vssentialiy air ii g'hi, invans fin fei'wiing Hiflt I'iili to the 'ith said feeding means being inciorsed in an tight casing spaced apart from tin H means for condvnsing thignaw 0f thv and means for iniwting the m ni doused gases into the asiug \i'h th finding [11911115. thei'irhy oxpia y from the mawi-iai n1 it: being): in; in i a. retort.

fling and {mini sipl imam-12H i iaii end fa," iiw i, .\n apparatus id thv hind drawd *htiip 'iii-iiumui in? M1 vmiipi'isilig a retort, min-ms, i'm fending um Y mai'viiai a h ihiv; {(l'iili m the retort, said i'ewdizig mama hei liihi'l. =1 siiding (i'illiflifiififl iiig inciosed in an air tight 1: Qingz ii 13' af the rs-tmi, and 5' ha apart from the retort means in said iii: pavin a win} Tam thi'wi fi t me for breaking up and dividing the UMUMJL in'dh vr that? as itfed. and means; for fmi-in a can! gas heavier than air ti'ii'uiigh thv ing thereby expelling: the aii' min tha mi:- ing and the material therein.

i'. An apparatus 01 the hind V miiiprising an oaswiiiaiiy air iigzhi r moans-imfwding iiiatm'izii in ii; an vw-ntiaiiy air tight @asing iniimi finding invanw. ii ifl'if u. ha ina HM vasing to him}; up thi" mairx is: hving: fad th vetiii'migh imandi'nsing the gamma gimii-iatwi in 'ihc and means fur r-nni'ijiing (he inn-mi i gasvs inio thv ai'gii'vsaid (axing ihvivm wpvilin; UN air (.hrwi'imn.

admit Lar 1m.

and ZEHHKW Far pa: my: inatvriai d at iii! iowvr Mid (if Hare i hvavivi' than air in the waxing.

3. An apparaiiia (if the hil i 'llllllifiinfl a i'oiui't hai in imam at nut and in! tho owapv iii gasifi. and at th-:- uppwibs mid f n the escape of varhoniimd iziaim'iiii. iiivans for fending inaiei'iai M iii i""fil'iv,i an :\H' tight ("mug iiwhmiig ii? Tw mg dam i'i Wti i-i-izihihi .\ii appa'zni -l "ii m dew-riiwd impi 11;; a rhiai'x' 'iiiPiiin-d ivtmf. means for 'i'i vdiiig mHIPYiHi inn [he uppv-i and (if said "Pi/Ti. an air tighi a ing inclining said ii-i-ihng amine and pWvidi'w'i with an ha isi pip, cippmiiiiy dispuwwd \(dil'f'F an lil lffi ii iii a ivitirai pmiiiiii iii ihv v aid (mfin-nave henvs-th the Maori. m mo 11. An apparatus of the kind dc g rrihed whereby the uncondensed gases of the conhead, a settling tank receiving the gases denser are discharged beneath said ledges. from said pipe, and a condenser connected 16. Thecombination with the rotary inwith the settling tank. elined retort, of a stationary head at the up- STEWART E. SEAMAN. 5 per end of the retort, means for feeding ma- Witnesses:

terial through said stationary head, a gas WARREN B. HUTcmNsoN,

escape pipe connected with said stationary ARTHUR G. DANNELL. 

